Naro-1
Naro-1 (Korean: 나로호), previously designated the Korea Space Launch Vehicle or KSLV, is South Korea's first carrier rocket.
and the first South Korean launch vehicle to achieve Earth orbit.
On 30 January 2013 the third Naro-1 vehicle built successfully placed STSAT-2C into low Earth orbit.
The solid-fuel rocket second stage was built by KARI, the national space agency of South Korea, and Korean Air. The first stage was purchased by KARI after manufacture by NPO Energomash, the maker of the Russian Angara rocket.
Neither the maiden flight on 25 August 2009 nor the second flight on 10 June 2010 reached orbit. The third flight on 30 January 2013 successfully reached orbit. The launches took place from the Naro Space Center. The official name of the first KSLV rocket, KSLV-I, is Naro, which is the name of the region in which Naro Space Center is located.
History
In 1992, Republic of Korea developed and launched several satellite systems and rockets overseas, such as the solid-fueled KSR-1 and KSR-2 sounding rockets. In 2000, Republic of Korea began construction of the Naro Space Center, located on Naro Island in Goheung, 485 kilometres (301 mi) south of Seoul, with Russian assistance. The work was completed by the launch of the 6,000-kilogram (13,000 lb) KSR-3 liquid-propellant sounding rocket on 28 November 2002. South Korea announced in 2002 that it intended to develop a small satellite launch vehicle by 2005 that would be based on technology flown on the KSR-3 test vehicle. The launcher would be entirely indigenous, based on the 122.500-kilonewton (27,539 lbf) thrust LOX/kerosene motor used for the KSR-3 rocket stage. In 2005 a change was announced, indicating that they would use the Russian RD-191 as the vehicle's first stage. The program, like that of the Angara, was subject to continuous funding shortages and schedule delays.
